The Move was a British rock band of the late 1960s and the early 1970s who,… Read Full Bio ↴The Move was a British rock band of the late 1960s and the early 1970s who, for most of their career, were led by guitarist, singer and songwriter Roy Wood. He wrote all the group's UK singles and, from 1968, also sang lead vocals on many songs (initially, the band had four main vocalists: Wood, Carl Wayne, Trevor Burton and Chris "Ace" Kefford who shared the lead vocal role).

The Move evolved from several mid-1960s Birmingham-based groups, including Carl Wayne & The Vikings, The Nightriders & The Mayfair Set. The group's name seems to refer to the move various members of these bands made to form the group. Beside Roy Wood, the original members of the Move were drummer Bev Bevan, bassist Chris "Ace" Kefford, vocalist Carl Wayne & guitarist Trevor Burton.

Their first single, 'Night of Fear' was released in 1966 and was the first in a line of memorable hits penned chiefly by Roy Wood.

'I Can Hear the Grass Grow', 'Blackberry Way' & Flowers in the Rain (the latter being the first record played on BBC Radio 1), are The Move's better known work not forgetting 1971's 'Tonight'. The group became more experimental and innovative as time went on especially on the albums 'Shazam' and 'Message from the Country'.

Several changes left the final line-up in 1971 as Roy Wood, Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, evolving into the first incarnation of Electric Light Orchestra which Wood left soon after to form Wizzard.

Something
The Move Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is there something that you've wanted
More than anything

Something you took for granted
Never stop to think

Suddenly it's there in your eyes
Suddenly you can recognize

That something
That certain something

Do I want you
Oh do I want you
More than anything

Did I love you
Oh did I love you
Never stop to think

All my life I've wanted one thing more

All my life I've been searching for
That something
That certain something

Oh no no no
Its not like that at all

Oh no no no
Not as I recall

Is there something that you've wanted
More than anything

Something you took for granted
Did you ever stop to think

All my life I've wanted one thing more
All my life I've been searching for

That something
That certain something

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of The Move's song "Something" is a universal question that often gets asked. It is about wanting and yearning for something so badly and realizing it might have been right in front of you but you didn't pay attention. It is a sentiment that many of us can relate to. The lines "Do I want you, Oh do I want you, More than anything" express the feeling of being completely sure about what you want. The line "Did I love you, Oh did I love you, Never stop to think" shows regret for not realizing the importance of something until it is gone. The song is about longing for that special something, wanting to find it, and realizing its significance.

The chorus "All my life I've wanted one thing more, All my life I've been searching for, That something, That certain something" continues this theme of searching for something that will give you a sense of completeness. The verses correspondingly stress more on the pain of not achieving it. They also emphasize on the idea of not recognizing something precious until it's gone. The line "Oh no no no, It's not like that at all" implies that what was taken for granted is not something that can easily be replaced.

Line by Line Meaning

Is there something that you've wanted
Have you ever desired something strongly?

More than anything
More than anything else in the world?

Something you took for granted
Did you overlook something important?

Never stop to think
Did you fail to consider its value?

Suddenly it's there in your eyes
Now it's clearly visible to you

Suddenly you can recognize
Now you understand and acknowledge

That something
That elusive thing you've been seeking

That certain something
That distinct and particular thing

Do I want you
Do I desire you?

Oh do I want you
Oh, how much do I want you?

Did I love you
Did I have affection for you?

Oh did I love you
Oh, how much did I love you?

Never stop to think
Did I fail to consider my feelings?

All my life I've wanted one thing more
Throughout my existence, I've yearned for something additional

All my life I've been searching for
Throughout my existence, I've been seeking

Oh no no no
No, it's not like that

Its not like that at all
It's not as you might imagine

Not as I recall
Not as I remember it

Did you ever stop to think
Did you ever pause to consider

Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

@ladyheepster

8y↑30

one of the best b sides ever, why has no other great singers covered it? What a shame, it's a great old song!

@toomuchinformation

7y↑5

ladyheepster Well Oasis have been influenced by it. Listen to "Whatever" by them.

@ladyheepster

7y↑1

Ah! ok, I'll do that my friend, thank-you!
p.s I'll let you know the verdict soon ....

@peterbullock2660

5y↑4

Couldn't agree more with lady heepster, great vocals by Carl wayne

@bramleybull

@@toomuchinformation Exactly what I thought when I first heard it. Surprised they didn't sue.

@Davescottmorgan

@@bramleybull Will have a listen - thanks for the heads up!

2 More Replies...

@eruptionmat

13y↑28

The Move is a great band. Shame they didn't get the credit they deserve.

@raymondbonington9355

10 top 30 hits between 1966--1972 Isnt to bad .

@misterpeppercorn3078

I saw them at The Whiskey in 1969 - Roy, Bev, Carl and Rick Price. Absolutely great. Vocals were out of this world. Wish I could have seen the original line up!

@chloedevereaux1801

the MOVE'S a great band or the move ARE a great band..... the move IS a great band is grammatically incorrect..

@snsnshhhs663

42w

Better recognition than the idle race

@ronniefindlay807

5y↑11

One of my favorite songs of the sixties I'm still playing it to this day

@slimshine953

Ronnie Findlay ~ And that says a hell of lot!

@henrywilloughby8333

It’s better than the a side

@pureboxofscartcables

6y↑8

One of the greatest songs ever, it's been on every mixtape or mp3 CD for twenty(+) years and it it still sounds fresh.

@musson13

1y↑2

Roy Wood was a songwriter of genius, and Wayne’s vocals did this song justice.

@IanSomerville-io1si

11w

He may have been however Dave Morgan wrote this

@jacquelinecarty8579

2y↑1

What a lovely voice Carl had. 2 sublime songs

@snowfare

4y↑3

Pure utter class vocal from Carl Wayne, amazin band live!!

@VirreFriberg

3y↑7

Strange how they put this on the B-side, should've been an A-side in it's own right. Perhaps Carl Wayne's best vocal effort with the Move, and one of Bev Bevan's busiest drumming performances during his entire career. Seriously, just listen to him!

@henrywilloughby8333

3y↑2

In the sixties there were a lot great songs put on the b side

@jacquelinecarty8579

2y↑1

Blackberry Way was a very good song too

@davidmacgregor5193

1y↑1

It was a 'B' side because Roy Wood didn't write it, all the single 'A' sides released between 1966 and 1972 were written by Roy Wood.

@wernerbluhm2996

8y↑2

Einer der schönsten Songs! Ein Evergreen! Brilliant!

@reginahyde1488

2y↑1

Carl Wayne... what a singer

@ballhawk387

7y↑2

Excellent! Love the way they treat what is essentially a cabaret song with some really powerful rhythm section work. Bev, Trevor, and Carl were really on top of their game on this one. The A-side (Blackberry Way) was very much Roy's show.

@33Birchmoor

7y↑1

This seems much faster than the original b side of Blackberry Way.Has it been speeded up;or is my memory playing tricks?

@toomuchinformation

Think that it was written by a friend of Carl Wayne, not Roy Wood.

@christopherthomas7253

8y↑8

Such a great song! Thanks for posting it.

Hey, an extended version, too. Never heard this one before, neat! : )

@davidmacgregor5193

2y↑2

A beautiful song written by Dave Morgan who was a member of The Ugly's at that time. Dave replaced Kelly Groucutt as the ELO bassist for their "Time" album tour.

@musson13

1y↑1

Not a Roy Wood song then! I am surprised, seems to have a lot of his trade marks in its structure.

@d.a.elliottjr.367

32w

Something by the Move & Something by the Beatles are 2 great songs that share the same title.

@izmangr

4y↑1

one of my favorite song. just great

@rolandopino4728

9y↑4

So beatiful!

@rockerbox1973

13y↑1

Tony Visconti produced this song.you can hear by the strings arrangement how he a few years later added this to the T.rex songs he produced,beautiful!

@applecorpse

2y↑1

A mazing song

@Puppenspieler100

6y↑1

Ich liebe diesen Song!

@Liamcb93

13y↑3

always loved this song- played it more than the A side.On my vinyl version the last lalalalala bit isnt on and the strings are louder to fade. Thanks very much x

@TheMacasso

gorgeous song...

@danielwilliams9473

Thanks for uploading this! The stereo remix really jumps out at you and it's a stellar song overall.

@laineycrusoe

15y↑2

I can remember 'Beatles Forever' being on Youtube. The sound quality was very poor but the song could be heard. Its chorus was a similar tune to the corus on 'Video!' but a bit slower. I don't know where 'Beatles Forever' can be found but Face The Music says 'Secret Messages' could be re-released with its double album and single album format.

@thesnesman5235

I know this comment was from 12 years ago but we since have more higher quality versions of Beatles Forever

@SuperColtra

8y↑1

I love songs by The Move. I was just reading about The Move on a website and it said an early member named Ace Kefford was fired from the group because of substance abuse, and Kefford drifted in and out of the music scene for several years after that, dealing with mental illness, and he once attempted suicide.

@toomuchinformation

7y↑1

SyphroJ And Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac.

@davidmacgregor5193

5y↑3

Christopher John (Ace) Kefford wasn't sacked by The Move, he threw his bass guitar against a studio wall during the recording session of "Fire Brigade" and he walked out of The Move. Yes Ace did have mental health problems due to drug abuse during the 1967 package tour with "Pink Floyd", "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", "The Nice", "Amen Corner" and "Eire Apparent". After leaving The Move, Ace formed The Ace Kefford Stand with Dave Ball, Denny Ball and Cozy Powell. After Ace left "The Stand" the remaining three became "Big Bertha". Ace started making a solo album in 1968, he walked out on the project and left it unfinished. One of the tracks was Paul Simon's "Save the Life of My Child" it featured a pre-Led Zeppelin Jimmy Page on guitar. The album was finally finished by Ace and released on cd as "Ace the Face" in 2003. Also in 1968 "The Lemon Tree" released an Ace Kefford penned psychedelic classic "William Chalker's Time Machine". Fast forward to 1976 and Kefford was back in the music business with a band called "Rockstar", the only released one single, "Mummy" backed with "Over the Hill" both tracks were written by Kefford. In 1981 Kefford joined Roy Wood and Bev Bevan on stage at the Locarno in Birmingham as a very nearly The Move revival,

@robbiejohnson2011

13y↑1

Superb. Thanks a lot.

@razvandobos9759

23w

A band not well known to Americans even though they toured in the US once in October 1969. Had lots of Top 20 and Top 30 hits back home though. The predecessor to Electric Light Orchestra. This song is the Move at their peak seriously. Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields vibes all over.

@applecorpse

A frickin mazing song. Oh yes yes yes...

@FinnMove

15y↑2

A couple months ago I heard here in YouTube track called Beatles Forever ( some kind of demo version ). The only unreleased track of the planned double Secret Messages. But now it has disappeared. I heard it has similarities to Lynne- solo Video ! Any chances to hear it and put it in my favourites ?

@danielwilliams9473

5y↑1

Thanks for the upload! I much prefer this stereo version, sounds more full and it's gorgeous to me. Which CD did you get this from?

@eslermanu47

Roy the genius

@deadflowersfordaphne1550

9y↑9

This was not written by Roy Wood. It was written by Dave Morgan, later, Dave Scott Morgan, who toured as a member of ELO and is a prolific songwriter. He has a gold disc for sales of "Hiroshima", covered by Sandra Ann Laur, aka "Sandra". His collaboration with Richard Tandy, "Earthrise" can be viewed on You Tube.

The story behind "Something" is this:

The Move were needing a hit. Don Arden had become their manager. Don was going to put out Blackberry Way and Something and asked Dave which song should be the "A" side. Dave said, "Blackberry Way". To this day he says it was the right thing to do.

@MrAugustus88

who sings lead vocals

@davidmacgregor5193

7y↑3

When Dave Morgan wrote "Something" he was a member of fellow Brummie band The Ugly's. Morgan also wrote "This Time Tomorrow" which was the B-side of The Move single "Curly".

@henrywilloughby8333

3y↑1

@@MrAugustus88 Carl Wayne sang it

@dermaurice_9891

3y↑3

Such a great song from an unterrated band, they deserved may more credit

@rustymackemingrancanaria6360

5y↑2

Well, anyone heard the song "only one woman" by marbles? That was written by the bee gees.... This song, "something" sounds similar in parts to that!!! Which came first????? Love the bee gees love the move either way.

@bigtel5557

26w

I thought EXACTLY the same! Both brilliant groups, and songs!

@martinmoller5591

8y↑3

Good sng! Thank you!! R. I. P. Carl Wayne! Are the others still alive??

@BatemanTube

7y↑2

Martin Möller Roy Wood is still touring (and he is fantastic) as is Bev Bevan. Ace Kefford and Trevor Burton still performing also, however on a much smaller scale.

@martinmoller5591

7y↑1

Thank you!!

@davidmacgregor5193

@@martinmoller5591 Trevor Burton has stopped touring due to illness, his replacement on bass in The Move was Rick Price, he unfortunately died in May 2022 aged 77.

@laineycrusoe

15y↑1

The CD I got this from calls it 'A Certain Something'. 'The Move Anthology' and Face The Music both call this song 'A Certain Something' as well. I didn't realise it was released as 'Something', sorry (I thought that was just the working title). I'll change its name around.

@thesnesman5235

Personnel

The Move
Carl Wayne: Lead Vocals
Roy Wood: Electric Guitar
Trevor Burton: Electric Bass
Bev Bevan: Drums

Additional Personnel
Nicky Hopkins: Piano
Tony Visconti: Production, Strings

@laineycrusoe

The piano here is played by session musician Nicky Hopkins.

@thesnesman5235

@@laineycrusoe Thanks. I've edited it now

@Mark27472

@@laineycrusoe When you find a great 60s pop or rock song, it's a safe bet Sir Nicky is at the keys. Legend.

@YPO6

5y↑1

Better than overplayed Blackberry way.

@henrywilloughby8333

Play this more than the a side blackberry way

@hugodunsany5576

Wow, I never knew Murderface was in a band before Dethklok.

@henrywilloughby8333

Still got the 45

@michaelbrandt5416

In my opinion, their italian version was much better.

@michaelbrandt5416

Their italian version is much better.

@giocodispecchi

13y

the Move sang this also in italian language

@FinnMove

15y↑2

What´s that A Certain Something ? Is it a joke of yours ? This is called Something composed by Dave Morgan. George Harrison made a song with same title a bit later ( if someone doesn´t know ) but the only similarity with these songs is the title of the song.

@davidmacgregor5193

FinnMove :- "A Certain Something" is an early alternate version of "Something", it doesn't have the strings on it. "A Certain Something" has appeared on Move compilation cd's. There is an early rough piano version on "The Move Anthology" box set.